Sea Shells
Sia Lyrics

In Sia's song "Sea Shells," the lyrics depict a sense of melancholy and nostalgia for the past. The first stanza describes someone watching the wind sculpting sand through a window since the beginning of time. This scene serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and how life can unravel slowly over time, captured in the lines "Life is slowly unraveling." The second stanza follows a similar theme, but this time the metaphor shifts to a burning castle and a lost crown belonging to Mr. Prince. These images convey a sense of loss and the inevitable decay of things over time.

The chorus is where we hear the titular line "She sells empty sea shells." This line is interesting because it refers to the common beachcomber activity of collecting and selling seashells found on the shore. However, the word "empty" denotes a sense of hollowness and the idea that something once whole is now incomplete, perhaps mirroring the lost crown in the previous stanza. The chorus also mentions "sand and biscuits, cups of tea," which conjures up images of coziness and simplicity, perhaps a nod to finding comfort in the small things as life unravels.

Overall, "Sea Shells" is a poignant and introspective song about the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life. The lyrics utilize powerful metaphors and vivid imagery to convey a sense of sadness and nostalgia for what is lost.